The Ohio State men's basketball team is just a day away from playing for a spot in the national championship game but there is plenty of big news surrounding the football program as well this weekend. Several high profile recruiting targets will be on Ohio State's campus this weekend to check out spring practice and meet with the coaching staff.

Among the star-studded list of expected visitors is a pair of big-time linebacker prospects in Wyomissing (Pa.) product Alex Anzalone and Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers product Jaylon Smith. Anzalone made his way into Columbus on Thursday evening with his mother and will be on campus both Friday and Saturday. Anzalone holds as impressive of an offer list as any linebacker in the nation and right now seems to favor four schools; Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State.

For Smith, the nation's No. 34 overall prospect will make yet another trip to Columbus as he watches his brother Rod Smith go through another spring with the Buckeyes. Like Anzalone, Smith has offers from many of the nation's top programs but at the moment this one appears to be a Notre Dame and Ohio State battle.

Linebacker isn't the only position group with an impressive duo as two outstanding offensive tackles are both expected to make their way to Ohio State over the weekend. At the top of that list is Lemont (Ill.) four-star Ethan Pocic. The nation's No. 27 ranked prospect has spoken highly of Ohio State over the last several months and will be on campus on Friday and Saturday. Pocic is considered the top remaining target for the Buckeyes at the offensive tackle position and Ohio State stands as good of a chance as any school to land Pocic.

The second of the outstanding offensive tackles is Bloomfield (N.J.) product Marcell Lazard. The 6-foot-6, 293-pound prospect now holds more than 15 verbal offers, including one from Ohio State. Lazard is making his first trip to Columbus and is expected to be on campus from Saturday through Tuesday morning.

Another key position in this recruiting class for the Buckeyes is quarterback and one of the top targets at the position will be on campus in Bolingbrook (Ill.) four-star Aaron Bailey. Like all of the quarterbacks on Ohio State's radar, the coaching staff is going to want to see Bailey throw in person at some point but there is no doubt that there is serious interest in the nation's No. 128 ranked prospect.

A second quarterback is also expected to check out practice over the weekend in Monessen (Pa.) product Chavas Rawlins. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound dual-threat prospect holds 10 offers at the moment and says he has already narrowed his list to six programs. Ohio State is among those six programs along with North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Purdue, South Florida, and West Virginia. The Buckeyes haven't offered Rawlins yet and would almost certainly need to see him throw in person before extending any type of committable offer.

Rounding out the big name out-of-state visitors is St. Louis (Mo.) John Burroughs four-star running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott will be in Columbus on Friday and Saturday and his making his second unofficial visit to Ohio State after taking in a junior day earlier this winter. Elliott is fresh off an unofficial visit to Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish are considered the team to beat right now in that race with the Buckeyes hoping to make a big move over the weekend.

Aiding the Ohio State coaching staff in its recruiting efforts this weekend is five-star Trotwood (Ohio) Madison defensive back Cameron Burrows. Burrows will be on campus on Friday to check out practice and will undoubtedly be trying to sell the undecided prospects on joining him in the Buckeye's 2013 recruiting class.

Stay tuned to BuckeyeGrove.com throughout the weekend for updates on these visits and other breaking news in the recruiting world.